A History of Royals discussion

The winner is Exit the Actress: A Novel by Goodreads Author and our own group member Priya Parmar.

While selling oranges in the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, sweet and sprightly Ellen "Nell" Gwyn impresses the theater’s proprietors with a wit and sparkle that belie her youth and poverty. She quickly earns a place in the company, narrowly avoiding the life of prostitution to which her sister has already succumbed. As her roles evolve from supporting to starring, the scope of her life broadens as well. Soon Ellen is dressed in the finest fashions, charming the theatrical, literary, and royal luminaries of Restoration England. Ellen grows up on the stage, experiencing first love and heartbreak and eventually becoming the mistress of Charles II. Despite his reputation as a libertine, Ellen wholly captures his heart—and he hers—but even the most powerful love isn’t enough to stave off the gossip and bitter court politics that accompany a royal romance. Telling the story through a collection of vibrant seventeenth-century voices ranging from Ellen’s diary to playbills, letters, gossip columns, and home remedies, Priya Parmar brings to life the story of an endearing and delightful heroine.

Just a heads up, release date for this book is Feb 1

it is out on feb 1 but it is already on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com for pre order. i am waiting for my copy too as i gave my only copy to my parents!

i am absolutely thrilled!

I've just suggested my local library gets a copy, although now I've discovered I can order it via a local website rather than Amazon or B&N I may just cave in and buy my own.

I am hoping that my library gets it, too, as I am doing a "no money spent on books" thing for the year of 2011. I should have pre-ordered it before December 31, lol.

I am doing the no buying books challenge as well so I may have to sit out on this one.

So, the " no book buying" must be a trend. My hsuband told me "no unnecessary spending." I am still trying to decide if that includes books. HMMMMM.
But Priya, its looks amazing!!!!

Priya wrote: "it is out on feb 1 but it is already on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com for pre order. i am waiting for my copy too as i gave my only copy to my parents!

i am absolutely thrilled!"

The summary sounds very interesting and I can't wait. I don't have a no-buy-books mandate this year, so can't wait to get my copy.

Allison wrote: "So, the " no book buying" must be a trend. My hsuband told me "no unnecessary spending." I am still trying to decide if that includes books. HMMMMM.
But Priya, its looks amazing!!!!"

I will go out on a limb here and say that books are a necessary food group and are therefore are considered an essential commodity.

Cryssa- I totally agree. They are an important part of any daily diet and shouldn't be viewed as unimportant.

It does look amazing, but I already have over 500 unread books, a husband who is out of work, and two sons in college.

Colleen wrote: "I am doing the no buying books challenge as well so I may have to sit out on this one."

rick from the james mason book club is doing a big giveaway of the book! i am sure he would love to send you one!

Allison wrote: "So, the " no book buying" must be a trend. My hsuband told me "no unnecessary spending." I am still trying to decide if that includes books. HMMMMM.
But Priya, its looks amazing!!!!"

i am so pleased you think so!

i wrote a comment and then lost it...

rick from the goodreads group the james mason book club is doing a giveaway of 25 copies of exit the actress, arranged through my publisher. i am not sure how many are left but i would love for some of them to wind up here!

Priya that would be awesome.

I recommend Exit the Actress wholeheartedly. Priya has done a wonderful job of bringing Restoration London to live and Nell is a very appealing character. Her Charles II is dead-on center, too.

Thanks for the recommendation Sharon, everybody go out and read the book! I am going to be borrowing a copy from a friend when she is finished.

I have just pre-ordered my copy from the bookstore. the picture they have of the cover looks great.

Woohoo!!! The library has taken my suggestion and ordered 4 copies (makes me feel not-so-bad that I'm not actually buying one myself now!) And there's already another person requested it.

That is great news Darkpool. I'm glad it worked out!

yay!!!!!!

Priya wrote: "yay!!!!!!"

I've just ordered my copy from Amazon and am looking forward to reading it.

I havent joined you for a discussion in this group before. I was interested in the book though, but wondered how the timing of the discussion will work if the book isnt available until Feb. 1. If I ordered by mail, it would take several days to arrive to me and then I would still need to get started reading. I just didnt know the plan so people like me could catch up with discussion.

Great question, SarahC. Our group reads last for two months (it is structured to alternate with the Group Read from our sister group The Tudor History Lovers). Usually people get the book any time during the two month time period and then just jump on and post comments, quotes, etc. as they read, or when they finish. That is what seems to work best.

Just be sure to mark if there are spoilers in your comments, although, most of the books we read, since they are historically based, don't really have spoilers.

Hope you enjoy the book!

I can't wait to read this book!!! I find Nell Gwyn so fascinating!! And having the author to chat with is pretty cool too :)

My librarian just told me that the book will be in in the next 2 days so then I can start to read it. I can't wait. It sounds like it will be really good.

I just checked out the Kindle sample and I'm unsure about it. I don't know if I like the way it's written in a diary format. When it's written like a memoir, I don't mind but I'm not a fan of the diary style in historical fiction.

I just received my copy in the mail, and cannot wait to start reading this book and join in the discussions!

I'm still waiting for my pre-order. Congratulations Priya. Exciting times.

Robin wrote: "I just checked out the Kindle sample and I'm unsure about it. I don't know if I like the way it's written in a diary format. When it's written like a memoir, I don't mind but I'm not a fan of the d..."

Robin, I normally feel the same way, but I LOVED this book! Priya did such a wonderful job integrating Ellen's diary with letters, playbills, gossip column entries, etc. -- it gives the book an immediacy and life that I can't recall ever experiencing in any other book. You feel as if you are there, and I missed many hours of sleep, propping open my eyelids so I could experience what came next. And tomorrow (2/2) is Ellen's birthday -- perfect timing for the release of the book.

I haven't written it off completely but I'm going to wait to see what people here say about it before buying it. I'm sure it's very well written, there's been a lot of hype around it, but I'm just not sure it's my style.

Since you are reading Exit the Actress, I thought you'd be interested to read my interview with Priya. She discusses why she chose the particular format she used and has some fascinating comments about Nell and Charles and Restoration England. I loved this book.

http://sharonkaypenman.com/blog/

Thanks for posting, Sharon.

Hope you all go and read the interview! I just read it and it is really interesting. Thanks to Sharon and Priya for sharing with us.

Sharon wrote: "Since you are reading Exit the Actress, I thought you'd be interested to read my interview with Priya. She discusses why she chose the particular format she used and has some fascinating comments ..."

Thanks for the link, Sharon. Your interview with Priya was very interesting. I wish I could go on your tour in June -- it sounds fascinating. I hope you'll do it again.

The library just got the copy in and I'm the first person to borrow it. I have 2 weeks til it's due so i'm going to have to read fast. Can't wait.

Thanks for sharing Sharon. I can't wait for my copy of the book to come in the mail. I'm ready to start reading.

I hope we can do another Eleanor tour next year, too, Kathleen. Of course it is up to Academic Travel. But so many readers have asked me about another one that I think the travel agency might well consider it, especially if the one in June goes well. My readers are already lobbying for one in Wales!

Sharon wrote: "I hope we can do another Eleanor tour next year, too, Kathleen. Of course it is up to Academic Travel. But so many readers have asked me about another one that I think the travel agency might wel..."

A Wales tour would be wonderful. I would definitely be on board for that one!

So I was torn about if I should get this book for my Kindle or not but I took a chance and now I am loving it!!

I am glad to hear it, Amber! I was hooked from the first page. Her Nell is a very appealing character.

I am borrowing a copy from a friend, so as soon as it arrives, I will be starting. I'm glad that people are enjoying it so far.

Picked up my copy from the library today, but probably won't be able to start it for a few days.

I've started reading and am very much enjoying it so far.

Sharon wrote: "Since you are reading Exit the Actress, I thought you'd be interested to read my interview with Priya. She discusses why she chose the particular format she used and has some fascinating comments ..."

thank you sharon! you have been so wonderfully wonderfully kind! it means so much that you like it as your books are what made me fall in love with historical fiction in the first place!

Amber wrote: "So I was torn about if I should get this book for my Kindle or not but I took a chance and now I am loving it!!"

i have not seen the kindle edition as i do not have a kindle. are all the different elements designed differently like it is in the book?

Okay, so I started this book and it was going slow, I could get in the mood. Now that I have actually gotten it started I can't stand putting it down! I'm really loving watching the characters unfold and becoming who they will be. I love seeing how they start out and how one little choice could change their lives so much.

Isn't that a wonderful feeling when we start a book by an unknown writer, not sure what to expect, and then find ourselves emotionally involved with the characters and their world.

It is one of the best feelings in the world. The last time I remember it was when I read C.W.'s Catherine de Medici book, which was also a recommendation from you, Sharon. I'm glad this ones seems to be going well. Can't wait to get my copy so that I can catch up with all of you.

The next best feeling, Lyn, is to recommend a book and then learn it was enjoyed as much I enjoyed it. So thank you for letting me know this! Did you red Christopher's novel about Juana la Loca? I'd been intrigued by her ever since I learned as a child that she'd dragged her husband's coffin all over Spain, so I was delighted to learn that someone had written a book about her. And he does her justice. It was not always a blessing to be born royal.

Sharon - I bought it and am going to buddy read it in a couple of months with the some of my historical fiction GR friends. One friend has already read it and raves about it, so I am really looking forward to it. I am also anticipating his upcoming book on Isabella.

It is so great to have you in this group, and your recommendations are so spot on. I really appreciate it.

Kathleen wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I hope we can do another Eleanor tour next year, too, Kathleen. Of course it is up to Academic Travel. But so many readers have asked me about another one that I think the travel a..."

Why am I in the uk now when it is freezing and not on an Eleanor or Welsh tour? Mistake, Priya. Mistake!